Scaring Up Some Tidbits From the Tower of Terror 10-Miler
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler happened last weekend and reports are filtering down about the race. I wanted to give a little bit of information on what I’m hearing since I’m sure many of you are interested in running this race next year. If you remember back to Sunday, I gushed a bit about how awesome the Twitter reports made this race looked and how excited I was to try to run this in 2014. The reports from runners are sealing the deal for me!
1. Temperature
It was hot, but it wasn’t AS hot as last year. Thank goodness for small favors, I guess! Most folks said it cooled off a bit as the sun set and made the race much more enjoyable than last year. Considering last year sounded like they literally ran through hell, I’ll take this as a win.
2. Corrals
This was the first race featuring the new corral approach. There were more of them, and they were smaller. The idea is to give more space along the course by releasing runners in a small but steady stream rather than spacing corrals 5-7 minutes apart and sending huge chunks of runners down the road. Most reports I read today said this was a FANTASTIC improvement. The most supportive folks were the ones in A-D corrals.
They had less folks in each corral which allowed runDisney to send them off in 2 minute waves vs the 4-5 minutes for the larger back of the pack corrals. Those runners in the back still report crowding, but as one pointed out it was “nothing like the Princess Half this year- so yes, it’s an improvement.”
3. Course
Water, water everywhere! And all of it to drink. There were 7 water/hydration stations along the 10 mile course. I don’t think you could ask for more. runDisney was prepared for the heat and humidity of the race this year and stocked the aid stations accordingly. Medical personnel at the finish lines said there was much fewer casualties due to dehydration this year than last year. Sounds like everyone took the temperatures seriously.
runDisney also gets an A+ for casting the scariest, spookiest characters yet! Gah! I’d hate to run into this guy!
4. Sweepers
Another runDisney race in Walt Disney World has passed us by and another round of folks didn’t make it to the finish line on their own. By most reports at least 200 folks had an encounter of the sweeper kind, and ended up getting a bus ride to the finish.
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| Run.Walk.FastPass.Repeat caught the SAG Wagon in the background at the Princess Half Marathon. Big yellow bus. |
We call it the SAG Wagon. Saddest ride in all of Disney, am I right? By most accounts, this race saw the fewest numbers of people being asked to ride the bus. Some call it the bus of shame, I call it the unwanted fast pass.
Reports are being shared that the usual care & politeness occurred with the folks who were taken off the course. Water, cool towels, medals and an air-conditioned ride back to the finish line were offered. No one has told me that they experienced an unkind word by any staff or voluntEARS during this process. I am happy to hear this.
5. Balloon Ladies
Do you remember this post where I introduced you to Molly?
The number one question I was asked about the pacers was: do they have to buy their own balloons? The answer: YES they sure did. You know runDisney always listens to their runners when it comes to ways to improve the experience. This was one of those cases where they came through in style.
Check those out! Squeeee!!! Readers, you spoke and runDisney listened! They provided Molly and Nancy with these amazing and perfectly themed balloons for the race. Give yourselves a pat on the back for making change happen! Go Team No-Guilt Life!! We are Change Champions, my friends! WOOT!
Yeah… I am being slightly silly about it, but I’m tickled that they got these awesome balloons. Disney knows details- and this time, they got it right! Can’t wait to see what type of balloons the ladies will be sporting at the Wine and Dine Half in 30 days. Perhaps a wine bottled shaped balloon, or even better, one of these?
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| Click here, runDisney, if you want to buy one! |
Nancy and Molly both took my suggestion to try out Sparkle Skirts. Molly was sponsored by the Queen of Sparkle, Leah Powell, with this amazing hand painted one of a kind soft plum Sparkle Tech skirt. No, you cannot have one. Sorry! (That’s what one of a kind means!) Nancy wasn’t sure she was ready to commit to a skirt so she tried out a friend’s Sparkle Light for the race. I think they look SMASHING, don’t you?
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Patty Holliday has been running Disney since 2011. She knows just about every tip, trick, and hack there is to cover the runDisney Magical Miles at Disney World and Disneyland. She knows every mile isn’t *always* magical- but with training, tips, and a little bit of pixie dust, they can be a lot of fun! You can also find her at noguiltlife.com and noguiltfangirl.com
I would call the SAG wagon the 2nd saddest ride at Disney….First being that “Magic” Express to the airport on departure day…
Good point. At least on the SAG you get to stay on Disney property and find something fun to do! The Magical Express home- frankly- sucks.
I have wanted to do this one for awhile. Kept hoping that our fall break date would change to coincide with ToT this year. No such luck. Looks like I have at least three runDisney races in the cards for next year. Good thing we are thinking about upping our DVC points next week. 🙂
Aha— they got you too, eh Suzanne? DVC Poly add on hmmmm???
yup. but it could come in handy for future runDisney races. Ooh, hadn’t thought about the Poly add on. 😀
Y’all are gonna drag me into this, aren’t you. Let the Mr. Miles campaign begin…..
You got until February! Get started!
I don’t think I can swing this one next year. Does look fun though.
Don’t make me cry Bonnie…
I’m definitely in for next year, and hopefully my sidekick will be with me too!
She has to go- puts the We in We Run Disney! lol Hope you both make it.
How can I do Dumbo Double Dare AND this race LOL. I think THIS might be my 50th Birthday Weekend, what a great present to myself! Totally agree…..off the radar until all the twitter fun this past weekend.
I don’t know how- but I’m going to try to swing it too. For me, the DL races will be the no brainers. It’s talking my way into multiple West Coast races next year that I’ll have to have some super big helpings of pixie dust come my way!
Sigh. Take my money runDisney.
Word.
I ran it this year and overall had a great time. My only complaint was the dirt track from Osceola Parkway into ESPN Wide World of Sports. It was single lane and crowded around mile 5 so we all just walked. After that 1/2 mile of walking it was hard for me to get back to the run/walk I usually do.
I have heard this complaint from others. But since it was a small issue compared to the 2012 race, they seem to be overlooking it. 🙂 I’m so glad to hear from you and that it was a good race overall! Will you be back?
Not sure about the TOT – I really enjoyed the 1st half but my body complained a lot the second half. Not sure if it was different training, the fact I am 20 lbs heavier than other races or the walking in the middle. I also enjoyed that the pictures are in the dark so I look a lot better. 🙂 Expedition Everest is definitely on my list for 2014 and then training for the 2015 Princess. I ran it in 2011 & 2012. Missed 2013 and was planning on doing 2014 but it was sold out to quickly.
I agree on the dirt track. People were walking 4 across and it was difficult to get by. We also had to slow down throughout ESPN, especially around the baseball diamond. This being my first race, I was in the last corral so with the pacers not far behind me, I didn’t appreciate the slow down. I really had to kick it up a notch when we got back on the parkway to be sure I didn’t get swept. Even the sweepers ended up getting behind pace through there.
I so desperately want to do this!!! Perhaps next year!
It looked great, didn’t it? Good luck!
I ran this race on Saturday, and it was flawless in my opinion. They had lots of character spots (and characters you don’t always get to see), a DJ (not only at the pre-race party, but on the course), and I never found myself wanting for water since there were so many stops. The spectator support during this race was incredible and just kept feeding my motivation. I’ll be doing my recaps over the next week or so 🙂
AWESOME!
My husband ran it last year and although he did fine, the weather took a toll on his pace. As much as I didn’t think I would like it (so I wouldn’t feel “obligated” to do it again), I really did like it! He was in A, but came back to the front of D with me- we were the first to cross the start mat. Never felt crowded, stopped for pictures and ran beside him as he paced me…it was great! Pretty sure we’ll be in for next year too!!
I love it! My husband ran DDD with me and it was great.
Totes checking in in 2014. I already had it on my list and now there’s no way I’d miss it!!!
If I can convince the husband, I am totally in for 2014. I love Disney. I love Halloween. It seems like a no-brainer. I’m glad to hear about all of the improvements. Hopefully 2014 will be the BEST! 🙂
The temps weren’t too bad but the humidity was still awful. You just have to be smart and take the course a little slower. It was a lot of fun but still a pretty warm night.
How was the afterparty? in 2012 when i crossed the finish line, there was already a 70 minute wait on the tower of terror ride mostly due to the nonrunners attending the afterparty. Over crowded and just took the fun out of the afterparty for us.